It would require a few months to contain the dengue situation, says Health Minister Zahid Maleque as Bangladesh grapples with its worst outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease.

The minister said that everyone was working towards bringing the outbreak under control and the rate of becoming infected with the fever was coming down across the country.

He added that a social movement had started to check the outbreak and it would soon be contained if everyone kept their houses and surroundings clean.

He came up with the remarks while inaugurating a municipality crash programme to kill Aedes mosquitoes with fogger machines on the premises of the 250-Bed Manikganj District Hospital on Monday (Aug 5).

Manikganj Municipality Mayor Gazi Kamrul Huda Selim presided over the programme.

Manikganj Deputy Commissioner SM Ferdous, Police Super Rifat Rahman Shameem, Civil Surgeon Anowarul Amin Akanda and Manikganj Lawyers’ Association President Abdul Mojid were present on the occasion.

The minister later visited the patients the hospital and enquired after their health. He also gave various instructions to the doctors and nurses at this time.

During his briefing to the media, he said that 18 people had died so far of the fever across the country.

He urged the private hospitals to continue providing treatment to the dengue affected patients alongside the public hospitals during Eid.

All employees and staff members working at public hospitals have already had their Eid holidays cancelled.